Frustrated with the lack of effective advocacy for progressive issues in the halls of power, Robin co-founded the Genesee Valley chapter of Progressive Democrats of America in early 2008. PDA works "inside and outside" the Democratic Party to effect progressive change. In 2008, the Genesee Valley chapter was instrumental in winning New York's 29th Congressional District.
In 2009, Robin organized a daunting series of events. In March, she screened a documentary (Homicidez) about how violence affects victims' families, featuring a talkback with the director, Rochester Mayor (and now Lieutenant Governor candidate) Bob Duffy, and victims' families.
In late May, PDA sponsored "Rochester Speaks Out," a town hall on health care that featured two members of Congress.
The panelists were Prof. Ted Brown of the University of Rochester, actress and activist Mimi Kennedy, Rep. Eric Massa (NY-29) and Rep. John Conyers (MI-14); and the event was facilitated by Jeff Cohen.
There was standing room only in the 425-person venue.
The May 30 town hall prompted the creation of Rochester for HR676, a coalition of single payer activist groups that gathered 2,000 petition signatures in support of single payer health care. On July 1, Robin organized a rally, march and petition delivery to give the petition signatures to our local Congressional representative.
In late July, Robin also organized a bus to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the anniversary of the enactment of Medicare.
Robin and Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley also did a voter registration drive at the Park Avenue Summer Art Festival in early August.
PDA-Genesee Valley rounded out the year with a September protest in favor of single payer health care, a "Billionaires for Wealthcare" action at the debut of Michael Moore's Capitalism, and another town hall in November.
Robin continued her issues advocacy in calendar 2010, organizing Brown Bag Lunch Vigils to advocate against the Afghanistan supplemental and a forum in June, until she was recruited to run against an 18-year Albany incumbent in the State Senate.
Of late, she has been devoting all of her time to her race for the New York State Senate's 56th District. Supporting Robin in this race may well be the single most effective way to promote progressive politics in New York this year... but that will be the topic of another diary.